Is it possible to say, based on the premise that obligatory deeds are better in the sight of Allah and that the reward for praying over the deceased and burying them is a Qirat, that the reward for any obligatory deed is greater than a Qirat? And is the reward for returning a greeting greater than a Qirat?
Obligatory acts are greater than supererogatory acts, more beloved to Allah, and carry a greater reward, based on what Al-Bukhari narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: "Indeed, Allah said: 'Whoever shows enmity to a beloved servant of Mine, I shall declare war upon him. My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more beloved to Me than what I have enjoined upon him...'" Some scholars have gone to the extent of saying that the reward for an obligatory act exceeds the reward for a supererogatory act by seventy degrees, and that performing obligatory acts is the best of deeds. However, jurists have made exceptions for some supererogatory acts that the Sharia has preferred over obligations, such as: absolving the insolvent, initiating greetings of peace, performing ablution before the time [of prayer], and the call to prayer (adhan). The funeral prayer is a communal obligation (fard kifayah) and carries a great reward. As for the matter of reward, it is a matter of divine revelation (tawqifi) and can only be known through a text. It is not appropriate to compare a specific obligatory act with a supererogatory act of a different kind; rather, it should be said that the category of obligatory acts is superior to the category of supererogatory acts.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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